"The dangers to the Russian-speaking population in Crimea were very real," Putin said in a televised call-in broadcast nationwide. "We had never planned any annexations, we only took a decision to support Crimeans when they asked us to."

The U.S., Europe and the new government in Kiev last month alleged that Russia was involved in stirring up separatist feeling in Crimea, as well as fresh tensions in eastern Ukraine. Crimea was annexed by Moscow after a referendum that was condemned by the West.